Chapter 314

An hour later, Latisha was back in the bathroom, though she barely remembered how she'd gotten there. She was exhausted, unable to lift a single finger.

Peeking through heavy eyelids, she saw Clifford pulling on a dark sweater. Without a backward glance, he walked out, the bedroom door closing behind him and cutting off her view. She could fight it no longer and let her eyes fall shut.

Latisha hadn't been asleep for long when a sharp, cramping pain in her lower abdomen jolted her awake. She curled into a ball, her face pale as beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead. The feeling was terrifyingly familiar the same pain she'd endured in the weeks after she lost the baby.

After a moment, she forced herself up, using the wall for support as she staggered downstairs. She found the painkillers and shook a pile into her trembling hand. One wasn't enough anymore; she needed several to dull the ache. She lost count as she shoved the pills into her mouth, then stumbled to the sink and gulped down cold tap water.

Once it was done, she slid to the cold kitchen floor, exhausted. She glanced at the bottle of painkillers in her hand and gave a bitter smile.

If she died, she thought, Yesenia would be overjoyed.

And Clifford? Would he be happy?

Latisha closed her eyes, leaning her head against the cabinets as she listened to the rain drumming against the window.

What a storm...

...

The next morning, Latisha awoke to find herself still on the kitchen floor. Clifford must not have come home.

She couldn't quite remember what had happened, only that her stomach had hurt and she'd come down for medicine. She must have fallen asleep right there.

Using the counter to pull herself up, Latisha felt a dull, lingering ache in her abdomen. She ignored it and, out of habit, began to make breakfast. She set the table and waited until the clock struck eight before eating a few bites by herself.

After changing, she took a taxi to the office. She made her way to her

desk on the empty floor and att

blankly at her computer screen.

A little while later, Ziven came in. Seeing her sitting there, he handed her a stack of files.

"Madam, if you're looking for something to do, could you enter these into the

system? Do you know how to use spreadsheets?"

Latisha looked up at him and nodded, taking the documents.

Ziven noticed her pale complexion and hesitated before asking, "Ma'am, are you feeling unwell?"

Latisha paused, then shook her head.

"Alright, well, I'll let you get to it.”

Ziven turned and left the office, running right into Clifford.

"Mr. Lambert,” he said quickly. "About the news reports... should we do something to manage them?"

Clifford paused and glanced at him. "What news?" Then, remembering, he said, "Leave it."

Ziven looked confused. “Sir, if we ignore it, there's no telling how it will escalate. Someone is clearly fanning the flames. In just one day, the rumors about you and Yesema. Winslet are everywhere

“And they've dug up your entire identity," he added.

Clifford continued into his office. “Then let them fan the flames," he said coolly.

"But if this blows up," Ziven pressed,

"your marriage will like

be exposed.

The backlash against Ms. Winslet would be... severe."